Though far less common than in women, it is possible for men to develop breast cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 2,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in men each year and approximately 450 men die from breast cancer annually. Male breast cancers account for approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases.
Breast cancer is a rare disease among men. Many of the risk factors for male breast cancer are the same or similar to the risk factors for breast cancer in women. The survival of men with breast cancer is lower than survival in women but this results from death due to other health problems rather than breast cancer itself.
How common is breast cancer in men?
Breast cancer is a very uncommon disease in men. For the year 2001, it is estimated that 1,500 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a small number relative to the 192,200 women projected to be diagnosed with breast cancer and the 643,000 men projected to be diagnosed with cancer in general. It is also estimated that 400 men will die from this disease; 40,200 women will die from breast cancer in 2001.
While the small number of men with this disease makes it difficult to study, a number of studies have gathered and pooled information on men with breast cancer. Men are not exposed to many of the reproductive risk factors that women are exposed to and study of breast cancer in men may lead to a new understanding of the formation of breast cancer in both sexes.
Breast cancer is a very uncommon disease in men. For the year 2001, it is estimated that 1,500 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a small number relative to the 192,200 women projected to be diagnosed with breast cancer and the 643,000 men projected to be diagnosed with cancer in general. It is also estimated that 400 men will die from this disease; 40,200 women will die from breast cancer in 2001.
While the small number of men with this disease makes it difficult to study, a number of studies have gathered and pooled information on men with breast cancer. Men are not exposed to many of the reproductive risk factors that women are exposed to and study of breast cancer in men may lead to a new understanding of the formation of breast cancer in both sexes.
How is breast cancer in men similar to or different from breast cancer in women?
Most of the risk factors for breast cancer in men are also seen in women. The same types of tumors seen in women are also seen in men. The signs and symptoms of the disease are the same in both sexes and the responses to treatment are similar. There are minor differences. The average age of diagnosis is five to ten years later for men than for women. Survival from breast cancer is similar in men and women (See Does the survival of men with breast cancer compare to the survival of women with breast cancer? below). Also, the number of estrogen receptor containing breast tumors (estrogen receptor positive tumors) in men is higher than in women in general. A real difference may not exist here; a comparison of breast tumors from similar aged men and women reveals little difference in the percentage of tumors that contain estrogen receptors. The presence of estrogen receptors in tumors is important because estrogen receptor containing tumors respond better to treatment
Most of the risk factors for breast cancer in men are also seen in women. The same types of tumors seen in women are also seen in men. The signs and symptoms of the disease are the same in both sexes and the responses to treatment are similar. There are minor differences. The average age of diagnosis is five to ten years later for men than for women. Survival from breast cancer is similar in men and women (See Does the survival of men with breast cancer compare to the survival of women with breast cancer? below). Also, the number of estrogen receptor containing breast tumors (estrogen receptor positive tumors) in men is higher than in women in general. A real difference may not exist here; a comparison of breast tumors from similar aged men and women reveals little difference in the percentage of tumors that contain estrogen receptors. The presence of estrogen receptors in tumors is important because estrogen receptor containing tumors respond better to treatment
MaleBreastCancerTreatment:
If you have been diagnosed with male breast cancer, it is crucial that you seek treatment quickly. The types of conventional treatments used for male breast cancer are similar to the treatments used for female breast cancer. Remember, your chances of beating male breast cancer are higher if you seek treatment in the early stages of the disease.
Many people are unaware that men can develop breast cancer and thereforeneither individuals nor their doctors regularly examine men’s breasts.
Its Time For That To Change.